COMPREHENSIVE HATE CRIME BILL PASSES SENATE COMMITTEE
SB 1234 by Senator Sheila Kuehl, Sponsored by Equality California, Heads to Senate Appropriations Committee

SACRAMENTO – Tuesday, the Senate Public Safety Committee voted 4-0 in favor of SB 1234 by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D- Santa Monica) and sponsored by Equality California. SB 1234, the Omnibus Hate Crimes Act of 2004, will create a uniform definition of a hate crime, clarify the law, and provide tools designed to reduce such crimes. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a hearing in May.

“California has always led the nation in enacting effective protection for people who are victims of hate motivated crime,” said Senator Kuehl. “Tuesday, we took a first step to make hate crimes laws even more coherent and comprehensive by instituting uniform definitions of a hate crime across all our statutes and by strengthening training for our law enforcement personnel.”

SB 1234 reflects the recommendations of several high profile commissions and studies of hate crimes in California. The bill is supported by a coalition of prominent organizations, like the Anti-Defamation League, Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and various other labor and LGBT organizations.


~

Bishop: Gov. McGreevey cannot receive communion
The Associated Press
CAMDEN, N.J. - On the eve of his installation as bishop, the incoming leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden declared that he would not serve Holy Communion to Gov. James E. McGreevey.

~

Prom to welcome gay, lesbian students
Bethlehem group giving chance to dance to teens of various sexual orientations.
By BETH BRAVERMANThe Express-Times
BETHLEHEM -- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning teens have long expressed to organizers of HAVEN Youth Group that they sometimes feel uncomfortable attending proms at their high schools.

So this year, HAVEN has organized the Prizm Prom, specifically for LGBT and questioning youth and their allies, in a bid to provide its members with a chance to experience the traditional high school rite of passage in their own way.

~

Europe Leaves the U.S. Behind
by Steven Hill
Spain's new left-leaning government attracted the ire of the Bush administration recently when it withdrew its troops from Iraq. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero fulfilled a campaign pledge when he announced the withdrawal, aligning the Spanish government with the overwhelming sentiment of the Spanish people, as well as with most governments and peoples of Europe.

Receiving less attention than the troop withdrawal, in his speech Zapatero announced other priorities that further separated his government from the White House. Zapatero pledged greater spending on education and affordable housing for low- and middle-income families. He also pledged a crackdown on violence against women -- a scourge he called Spain's "greatest national disgrace" -- and recognition of gay marriage. The last one no doubt will be dismaying to religious fundamentalists in both the Bush administration and the Taliban.